CLICK BELOW ON THE ARTICLES TO READ COMPLETELY ABOUT IT (There are also some videos)
Advertiser Tribune 9/12/09
Video from ABC News
Sandusky Register Write up 9/14/09
AFTER FINDING THE PERSON WHO HIT THEM:
Sandusky Register Driver Story 9/18/09
HE PLEAD GUILTY FINALLY 12/21/09
His sentencing
This was wrote 9/13/09 (The Body of it was wrote by myself and my mom! Other family members and friends also added things at the bottom)
Brett Hensinger is a very active 17 year old who is idolized by not only his family but his peers. He is not only an important part of his mother and father’s life but he also means the world to his two sisters and his brother. Brett has a wonderful personality and is always full of jokes. He loves to see and make people laugh. Brett has wrestled since he was 7 years old and also attended Camp Jordon’s State Champ Camp this past summer to make his senior year more of a success. Brett also runs Varsity Cross Country and Track(B Squad). He is an avid runner and cyclist. Brett competes in area triathlons, where in his first one he took 3rd last month in his age group and in his second competition received 1st in his age group. Shane Tobin has helped push Brett to become all that he can be and also has helped him in his pursuit of becoming successful competing in triathlons. “Shane is pretty much my idol and if it wasn’t for him I probably would have never started doing triathlons. He also helped me a lot with Track and Cross Country.” Brett said. In school Brett is an excellent student who has 11 years of perfect attendance and this year would have been 12 but that is no longer in his forecast. Since Brett has found out that he isn’t allowed to go back to school, he is heartbroken, as this was his school career goal.
“Brett has helped me push myself in cross country. He has been with me all the way for over 10 years whenever I needed help with anything.” Trenton Hundley
“As a coach you always want your kids to be the ‘best they can be’ Hard-working, disciplined and respectful. Growing up during the high school years can be tough with all the pitfalls of that age group. The two boys worked hard, had fun, played by the rules, always.” Coach Lilli
“Will Power---- is about the only word that fits. To never give up even after something like this, to never give in. These guys will never quit. Both of them are some the strongest mentally than I have ever seen.” Coach Weasner
“Brett has taught me to laugh no matter what has happened.” Shaun Hopton
“Brett truly has an amazing heart and is so strong.” Miranda Hoover
“Brett has a huge heart. He is a wonderful friend and I know he will always be there for the ones he loves.” Heather Hicks
“Laughter followed Brett where ever he went.” John Baker
“Brett has a beautiful singing voice and is a very funny guy.” Chris Vannest
“Who is Brett Hensinger well I guess it’s better to ask who isn’t Brett. He is always there, funny, loving, strong, way to much will power, but most of all he is my best friend, we do everything together. He has inspired me in more than one way and I doubt he will ever stop inspiring people.” Paul
“Brett is our idol whenever we’re around him we always laugh. He is a very strong person and is always there whenever you need him.” Kristina Rankin and Katie Ronski
“Brett is not only a friend, a son, a student, an athlete, or a brother. He is my everything. He is what my life revolves around. I may be his older sister at 22 but he is my idol. He is such a strong, polite, helpful, caring, loving, funny, considerate person and he sets such high goals for himself. Brett makes me so proud and I couldn’t picture him in any other way. He inspires so many people and most importantly myself. I have had to watch both Brett and Shane go through immense pain and suffering will the person who did this just left them in my eyes to die. Thank God they are strong.” Kristen Decker (Brett’s Sister)
“ Brett is one of the most motivated young men I have ever met. In this day & age of children who do wrong so much, he is a wonderful role model to his friends and to all children who come in contact him. He continuously proves to everyone around him that he is a winner. When obstacles are put in his way, he does whatever is necessary to stay positive and overcome them. He is sweet, intelligent, and has more potential than any boy of his age that I know of.” Judi Lowe
“Brett, what to say about Brett. I’ve know Brett for exactly 17 years and 364 days….plus 9 months. I think I’ve known him the longest of everyone. He’s my son….my oldest boy…2nd in line of 4. He’s the inspiration to so many people, but most of all his mother, father, stepfather and always his siblings. He is the perfect big brother to his 8 year old brother, Chase and 5 year old sister, Lauren. Brett does not drink, smoke or do drugs this in itself is something to be proud of but it has and will influence those around him especially his younger siblings who look up to him. In there eyes he can do no wrong. Chase idolizes everything Brett does….biking, wrestling, working out, eating pickles….everything’s cool if Brett does it. He’s only 8 but is working on that 6 pack like his big brother has. He is a great inspiration for all of my children he inspires them to go to school every day, which is priceless as we all know most kids don’t want to go to school every day. But Brett has made it a mission to make it to school every single day of his school life. He will miss his first day of school EVER on Monday. This is crushing him. He has great friends who have taken it upon themselves to make sure he gets credit for the days or weeks he will be missing as proxys in his classroom. The people are not children they are Shane’s grandparents…they have not been to school in probably 60 years and will be attending high school once again for Brett. That should show in itself how much he has inspired others not just kids his own age and family but people 40 times his age who love both these boys more than life itself. You know how you wish you could take away the pain when your child is hurt. This pain has been unbearable to watch from the sidelines for all of us. I would take the pain for both Brett and Shane in a minute. But I can’t all we can do is pray that both of the great kids will pull through. There lives are changed forever. They will never be the same…they will NEVER run together, bike together or even walk together. I can’t take there pain or make them whole but I can love them like before and make sure they will know that we are always with them. They deserve so much more than this hand they’ve been dealt. They WILL SURVIVE AND THRIVE despite this tragedy. I will see to it!
I love Brett more than I can write in words…and Shane has become a special person in all our lives before and now especially.” Connie Tompkins (Brett’s Mom)
“9/11 was a tragic day in history for most of the world but 9/11/2009 was a tragic day for me and my family. I am going to mention 9/11 one more time that is 9/11/1963 because that is my birthday. So on my 46th birthday I had a tragic phone call that a irresponsible, uninsured, careless person had hit my son and his good friend and left them for someone else to find. Shane Tobin has been an awesome role model and inspiration for my son, Brett. These two tri-athletes are not only hard working and dedicated but are in better shape than most teens their age. You’ve already realized Brett will be missing his first day of school and without going into a long explanation of my personal feelings. I invite ANYONE to do a background check on Brett M. Hensinger or Shane Tobin and compare records to the man responsible. I love both of these kids and neither of them deserved this at all.” Randel Hensinger (Brett’s Dad)
I have known Brett for almost 11 years now. He was part of a package deal that came with his sister Kristen when his mother Connie agreed to be my wife. Over the past 11 years Brett has been an integral part of my family being son to my wife, brother to my 5 year old daughter, brother to my 8 year old son, and, while not biological, my son in every way. I have watched with pride as this ‘boy’ has grown into a young man that any father would be proud of. Brett has an outlook on life that is lost on so many people as it is hard for them to comprehend. There exists a moral fiber in Brett that is virtually impossible to teach. This is evident in many ways and several of those have been expressed by those who have written in this document. The events that took place on 9/11/09 are a tragedy. While Brett will physically recover from this incident his life will be forever changed, as will the life of his best friend Shane. One of the first things that Brett asked when he able to speak at the hospital was “Is the driver of the car OK?” This is where this young mans heart is. There have been at least two calls to the hospital from both the driver of the vehicle and his girlfriend trying to explain that it was not him that hit them with his car. They never asked how the two boys were doing or expressed their concern but simply wanted to express that they were not involved…that is where their hearts are. Richard Tompkins (Brett’s Step-Dad)
BRETT FIRST TRI AFTER THE "CRASH"
I also have "crash" pictures but I will post them some other time!!! (Have to change my profile to adult only)
